Major chocolate brand Mars Wrigley is converting its packaging into paper. The idea is to reduce excess plastic waste.
Chocolate Snickers And Mars Bars, for example, which are the most popular bars in Australia, will start receiving new packaging in April in the country.
After a three-year survey, the manufacturer invested about US$2.5 million to convert paper chocolate packaging so that it could be recycled. All research has been done by their manufacturing team in Ballarat, Victoria.
The brand asserts that when all of its Australian-made chocolates are available with the new recyclable packaging, the company will have eliminated more than 360 tonnes of plastic. The goal is to launch the packaging worldwide by 2025.
Andrew Leckie, general manager of the brand, calls the move an “important milestone” for the company.
As one of the largest manufacturers of snacks and sweets in AustraliaMars, Inc. has a responsibility to reduce our environmental footprint in all of our business, including packaging. The launch of our new paper packaging is an important step towards achieving our local and global packaging goals. “
The manager also mentioned that although the packaging development cost was very expensive, the value of the products would not increase for consumers.
In addition, in 2017, the parent company, Mars Inc, invested nearly $1 billion in combating climate change, resource scarcity, and reducing environmental impacts.
Melanie Robertson, Executive Director of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Australia and New Zealand, supports responsible forest management. In addition, she believes that changing brand packaging conveys the importance of alternative and environmental choices for disposable plastics.
